A dispute involving a former substitute teacher and Carmel Clay Schools is escalating, centering on claims of retaliatory termination versus a voluntary resignation. Beth Straw, a 76-year-old former permanent substitute at Clay Middle School, alleges the district dismissed her after she published a letter to the editor critical of its policies. The school district maintains she resigned and was offered other opportunities.
The conflict began after Straw's letter, which she says represented the views of numerous anonymous colleagues, appeared in a local publication in October 2024. Now, with legal counsel involved, Straw is seeking reinstatement and back pay, raising questions about employee free speech rights within the district.
Key Takeaways
- Beth Straw, a substitute teacher since 2017, published a letter critical of Carmel Clay Schools in October 2024.
- Following the letter, she was called into meetings with school and district leadership, including the then-superintendent.
- Straw received a negative performance evaluation in May, citing the public letter as inappropriate conduct.
- The district states Straw resigned and was offered substitute work at 14 other schools, which she denies.
- Liberty Counsel, a First Amendment advocacy group, is now representing Straw and has demanded her reinstatement.
A Letter Sparks a Conflict
The issue began when Beth Straw, a permanent substitute at Clay Middle School since 2017, signed her name to a letter to the editor. She stated she did so on behalf of dozens of teachers who shared her concerns but feared professional retribution if they identified themselves publicly.
Straw, 76, felt her age and employment status put her in a better position to handle potential consequences. "I’m 76 years old. If I get fired, it’s not going to kill me. I’ll still eat," she explained, noting the other teachers believed they could be "tormented" or moved to different schools if they spoke out.
Shortly after the letter's publication, Straw was summoned to a meeting with Clay Middle School Principal Todd Crosby and Assistant Principal Catherine Gahl. According to Straw, the meeting was not hostile, and she was thanked for her honesty after explaining that she and others had previously raised their concerns internally without success.
Meeting with District Leadership
Several weeks passed without incident. However, in mid-December 2024, Straw received an email from then-Superintendent Dr. Michael Beresford requesting a meeting to discuss the letter. The email stated, "You are not in trouble, I just want to fully understand the context of the topics you covered."
When Straw requested to bring someone with her, Beresford instructed her to attend alone. Upon arrival, she found Beresford was accompanied by CCS School Board President Kristin Kouka and a district attorney, Andrew McNeill.
An Hour of Questioning
Straw described the hour-long meeting as an intense grilling. She claims Beresford repeatedly pressed her to reveal the names of the teachers who co-authored the letter. "He really was wanting names. I told him, ‘My husband doesn’t even know their names. I’m not telling you. I’d go to my grave with those names,’" Straw recalled.
She also recounted Beresford questioning why so many teachers wouldn't bring their concerns directly to him. She said she replied, "Are you kidding? Do you want them to go through this?"
The Performance Review
After the December meeting, the school year continued without further discussion of the matter. However, Straw's annual performance evaluation, typically done earlier in the spring, was scheduled for the last day of school on May 22.
In the evaluation, her scores had dropped in nearly every category compared to previous years, where she had received nearly perfect marks. Under the "Professionalism/Confidentiality/Service Focused" category, her performance was rated "unacceptable."
Evaluation Cites Public Criticism
A note in the evaluation directly addressed her letter to the editor. It stated that expressing concerns through a public forum "without first engaging in a dialogue with the school principal was not appropriate." The note concluded that a "similar incident" could result in dismissal.
During that meeting, Straw informed administrators of her prior decision to step down from her permanent substitute role and work part-time as a regular substitute at the school. She then began coordinating with the district's human resources department.
Employment Status Disputed
On August 1, Straw received an email from an HR administrative assistant informing her that, due to concerns from her evaluation, she would no longer be assigned to Clay Middle School or any special education classrooms. The email stated she was "welcome to substitute in general education classrooms" at other district schools.
Straw said she was confused by the email and that the HR employee told her the directive "came from above." A week later, she discovered she was locked out of the district's software system. "That’s how I found out I was done," she said.
In response to inquiries, current CCS Superintendent Thomas Oestreich, who took over in July, provided a statement. "The former staff person in question was offered the opportunity to continue serving as a substitute in 14 of our 15 schools but declined the parameters set and chose to resign," Oestreich stated. He added, "Carmel Clay Schools has nothing further to add at this time, as this is an ongoing legal matter."
Straw contests this version of events, stating she never resigned from her role as a substitute teacher and is unaware of the "parameters" mentioned in the statement.
Former superintendent Beresford declined to comment on specific personnel issues but said, "Anytime concerns about the district were raised, we investigate to see if there is validity to those concerns. We do so respectfully and professionally at all times."
Attorneys from Liberty Counsel, representing Straw, have sent a letter to CCS demanding her reinstatement as an unrestricted substitute at Clay Middle School and back pay for lost wages. The organization focuses on First Amendment and religious freedom cases.
